Leading the way after 13 matches are surprise package Leicester, ahead of Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal, while defending champions Chelsea are languishing down in 15th after a poor run of results.
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In my first six games for Newcastle I scored nine times, and at Coventry City it was 10, and on both those occasions I was on top of the world because my work life could not have been better. No team that has been top after 13 games has ever finished outside of the top four, however, Leicester still aren’t being thought of as a genuine challenger for the top prize.
Back in 2012, the Premier League boasted 20 names on that list, with that sharp tail-off raising fresh questions of the current quality within the English club game.
The Foxes are the league’s highest scorers with 28, mostly down to the electric form of Riyad Mahrez and Vardy. He later played for Shamrock and Southampton before dying of a heart attack aged 44.
Of their 13 games, only Arsenal and Tottenham would fit into that category and games against them yielded a 5-2 loss and a 2-2 draw. Including 10 on the spin; equalling Man United legend Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record.
“I hope for Vardy and for the fans that he breaks the record”. Perhaps only by the turn of the year will it be clear if Leicester – in first place for the first time since 2000 – is the real deal and a genuine top-four contender. Their incredible run can’t be laughed off or dismissed.
Speaking about the prolific form that his team are in, the veteran manager added that his side are building for the future.
Review the Reds’ big road win in our wrap and read about what it means for them going forward in our verdict. “They can maintain their style for 90 minutes and that is more hard”.
Meanwhile, Manchester United also jumped over City to settle at the second spot in the league table behind the Foxes.
Van Gaal and Marcos Rojo had a strained relationship earlier in the season, but Rojo has been featuring a bit more in the side as of late. The Canaries are 5/1 (Paddy Power) to get over the line in this game and claim a precious three points.
Memphis Depay had a positive match last weekend, scoring a goal against Watford, but he was anonymous against his old club on Wednesday. “He will get there, I’m sure”. Juan Mata will pull the strings from midfield with his endless passing and eagle-eye vision.
One thing was a constant for Vardy on that up-and-down journey: An ability to score goals – and plenty of them.
‘Now he is young, but he is a man. Already, three years ago, he knew very well where he will arrive.
But it’s not only in the Champions League where Van Gaal is holding United back.
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Prediction: DrawThis one could go either way. Neither team will want to lose this one.
